Chronic patient denied social grant, MEC looks into matter
An out-patient struggling to get his social grant application approved had his plight heard by Social Development MEC, Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana.
LIMPOPO – “Why should a chronic patient, and an old man for that matter, have to suffer this much for social relief grant that rightfully belongs to him?” Phukwana said when CV asked her about the matter.
A 57-year-old out-patient and resident of Madombidzha village near Louis Trichardt, Itani Sadiki, may soon get the help he needed so much if the Department of Social Development continued to dig deeper into his case.
He needs a social grant and for the grant to be issued, a doctor needs to recommend it.
The doctor, however, has on numerous encounters been reportedly supplying South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) offices with reports that Sadiki is not fit for a social grant. This has infuriated Sadiki so much that early this year he decided to approach the media because he felt a doctor seemed to have a personal vendetta of some sort against him.
Sadiki had been on medication after he suffered third degree fire burns around 1988 and was consequently retrenched from his job. He tried to seek other employment but without success since all prospective employers realised his duty performance was not up to standard.
“I have been on chronic medication since 1988. I provided all necessary documents and supporting letters from the tribal council, local clinic and next-of-kin as proof that I am unemployable, and that I have been on heavy medication for almost three decades now,” Sadiki said.
CV is in possession of a recommendation letter from Madombidzha clinic, where it is stated that Sadiki is a chronic patient who was retrenched from work as he “is prone to danger” and is “easily irritable”.
On 13 July 2017 and 11 January this year, however, Sadiki’s social grant applications were unsuccessful due to an unfavourable report from a doctor.
Upon enquiry, Mokaba-Phukwana said she was disturbed by Sadiki’s plight and long struggle to qualify for a social grant. She stated she would enquire with the regional manager, and then liaise with the Department of Health to ensure Sadiki’s case was resolved.
“I fail to comprehend the intricacies of this case and we would only get to the root of the matter once we’ve communicated with the Department of Health,” she said. “We will surely get to the bottom of the matter.”
